LGBTQIA+ History Month in October gives an opportunity for members to be recognized and to highlight the achievements of those who played a part in the progression of the LGBT Rights movement.

Pride Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month are not the same thing, and not only because one is in June and the other in October.

While Pride Month is dedicated to celebrate the acceptance of who you are, LGBTQIA+ History Month is to understand the steps members took to have their equal rights and liberties, said the newly elected president for the Allied Staff and Faculty Association, Nickolas Lucio.

The Allied Staff and Faculty Association is a campus wide support network for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.

Their mission is to encourage academic success and higher retention rates of LGBTQIA+ students as well as provide professional development among the staff and faculty at Fresno City College, according to Lucio.

The association also addresses issues of school climate and culture for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

According to Lucio LGBTQIA+ History Month is important because as the LGBT movement is progressing, members are receiving more support nationally and it is important to discuss and remind others of where they came from, where they started, and where they still need to go. 

“Many people have forgotten that the rights that we have today were not afforded to us,” said Lucio.

Although there will not be events on campus to celebrate this year’s history month, the Allied Staff and Faculty Association teamed up with Community Link to have an annual LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Pride Parade Festival held on campus, Lucio said. 

Natalie Valenzuela, a business major and ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, believes there should be a club for the LGBTQIA+ community because it’s fun to be involved in something and share common goals with others.

“I think it’s very important for minority groups to have specific time periods so that they can be recognized and seen,” said Valenzuela.

Valenzuela also adds that FCC can do more to recognize this history month by hanging up posters or flyers to let the community know that they are here to support them. 

Rainbow Rams, a support group for the LGBTQIA+ community, is available for students virtually every Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. Students can join by filling out a form on FCC’s website under LGBTQ Resources. 

Although there is not an official club for LGBTQIA+ students at FCC, anyone who is interested in being a club advisor or starting a club can go to the Student Activities office for more information. 

They are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.